Throughout the general election campaign, Joe Garofoli has been looking at “lies, half-truths and contradictions” on the campaign trail. Today, we look at Mitt Romney’s latest health-care claims.

Obamneycare?

So for, oh, the past couple of years, one of Mitt Romney’s sure-fire applause lines (other than “Isn’t Ann great!”) is how the first thing he’s going to do in office is repeal Obamacare, aka the Affordable Care Act. Yes, even though the law is based on the law Romney championed and signed as guv of Massachusetts. Still, Mitt has run from his own signature achievement like it was a pile of steaming uranium.

On Thursday, Mitt was asked during an interview with NBC to cite something in his past that would show his compassion — the inference being that he has been a lifelong rich dude who never had it tough and can’t relate to working stiffs. Mitt volunteered that he championed Romneycare in Massachusetts.

Mitt and Ted: Allies in the fight for health-care reform in Massachusetts. (AP photo)

To paraphrase losing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, was Mitt “for it before he was against it.” Or would that be “against it before he was for it.” Either way, we’re confused.

A while back we examined Mitt’s contention during a “Meet the Press” sitdown that he wanted to keep some parts of Obamacare — and how that wouldn’t be possible if he wanted to simultaneously repeal it.

The attempt here: Mitt is trying to soften his image a bit — or at least the heartless, Bain Capital millionaire image that the Dems have been burnishing for months. Even if it means doubling back on what he’s said before. Nevertheless, count this as a Con-tra-dic-tion!